Solo Tone
Kiss
Prince & The Revolution
Guitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarHohner/H.S. Anderson MadCat Telecaster copy (late '70s, maple neck, Strat-style single-coil pickups, Strat-style hardtail bridge)
AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIB (1981) into two Bag End Q12 4x12 cabinets with JBL D120F speakers
PickupsStrat-style single-coil (EMG pickups, likely SA or S model as per Prince's use in this era)
Amp Settings
gain5
bass4
mid6
treble7.5
reverb1
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
wahColorsound Colorsound Wah
distortionBoss Boss DS-1 Distortion
modulationBoss Boss OC-2 Octaver
flangerBoss Boss BF-2 Flanger
Notes
Studio recording, 1986. Prince used the MadCat Telecaster copy with EMG pickups and ran through a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIB for the solo on 'Kiss'. Effects chain included Boss pedals and a Colorsound Wah. Settings and pedal usage are based on detailed Guitar World breakdown for this era and song.
Tone Character(10)
aggressive treble bitebright and articulatetight, percussive attacksinging sustainmidrange claritydynamic and expressivedistinct wah sweepflanger swirl at key momentsoctave-up harmonicscutting, focused lead tone
Difficulty
The solo requires advanced control of expressive effects (wah, flanger), fast and syncopated phrasing, and dynamic articulation, making it challenging for most players.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarHohner/H.S. Anderson MadCat Telecaster copy (late '70s, maple neck, Strat-style single-coil pickups, Strat-style hardtail bridge)
AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIB (1981) into two Bag End Q12 4x12 cabinets with JBL D120F speakers
PickupsStrat-style single-coil (EMG pickups, likely SA or S model as per Prince's use in this era)
Amp Settings
gain5
bass4
mid6
treble7.5
reverb1
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
wahColorsound Colorsound Wah
distortionBoss Boss DS-1 Distortion
modulationBoss Boss OC-2 Octaver
flangerBoss Boss BF-2 Flanger
Notes
Studio recording, 1986. Prince used the MadCat Telecaster copy with EMG pickups and ran through a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIB for the solo on 'Kiss'. Effects chain included Boss pedals and a Colorsound Wah. Settings and pedal usage are based on detailed Guitar World breakdown for this era and song.
Tone Character(10)
aggressive treble bitebright and articulatetight, percussive attacksinging sustainmidrange claritydynamic and expressivedistinct wah sweepflanger swirl at key momentsoctave-up harmonicscutting, focused lead tone
Difficulty
The solo requires advanced control of expressive effects (wah, flanger), fast and syncopated phrasing, and dynamic articulation, making it challenging for most players.
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